Uttar Pradesh stands out in Jatropha Cultivation

Both biodiesel and conventional diesel come from plant and animal sources, the difference is the resources that produce diesel existed millions of years ago and the one that make biodiesel are cultivated today. The National biofuel policy of India has put India in a different club than the rest of the world. Network programs of the Department of Biotechnology and Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India are striving to find best cultivars of Jatropha curcas, cultural practices to optimize yields, genetic enhancement to develop site specific cultivars and make good planting material available to farmers.

Uttar Pradesh has formulated a unique, farmer friendly and participatory model for Jatropha cultivation. It involves farmers, landless labor, Corporations, technical support from government agencies like Biotechnology Park and policy support through State government agencies.

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has earmarked 40% of its wasteland (15.83 lakh hectares) for cultivation of Jatropha in the state. The State Government since year 2006-07, has decided to encourage farmers to undertake cultivation of Jetropha in about 10 lakh hectares of wastelands in 30 districts of the State pertaining to Varanasi, Mirzapur, Allahabad, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Agra Divisions. The Government of Uttar Pradesh had also made an arrangement of establishing Bio-Diesel Value Chain with M/s Bharat Petrolium Corporation Ltd. and its associate companies. Indian Oil Corporation in collaboration Ruchi Biofuel is concentrating in the wastelands of dry belt of Jhansi region; while Bharat Petroleum in collaboration with Nandan Biomatrix is operative in other 30 districts of the State. These corporations are working in a PPP model facilitated by State Jatropha Mission Cell. This model has inherent safeguards and benefits. The lands have not been allotted to corporations rather the farmers and Panchayats have ownership not only of the land but also of produce. Their involvement in true sense is the key to the success of the program. Procurement of the seeds will be ensured by the Corporations who are genuine stakeholders; and the State government will check any exploitation of the cultivators.

Uttar Pradesh may well become a success story in the Country and may be able to provide feed stock for its own biodiesel requirement as well as meet requirement of other States much like ethanol for petrol blending. It will have a potential to produce a minimum of 10 lakh tons of oil per year if the wasteland is put to Jatropha cultivation. This initiative would also help in reduction of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) on an annual basis.

It therefore is just a matter of time when Uttar Pradesh will pave the way for rural entrepreneurship in augmentation of bio-diesel produce. Thus the people even at village level will also be able to contribute in Industrial Development of the State..

Hari M Behl,

Biotech Park, Lucknow

Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow

The Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture (CISH) under the aegis of ICAR is serving the nation by undertaking basic and strategic research to enhance productivity and develop value chain for major and minor subtropical fruits. Institute is also a national germplasm repository of subtropical fruit crops. The Institute has two experimental farms, one at Rehmankhera approximately 25 km away from the city and the other at Raebareli (R.B.) Road, in the city of Lucknow. To meet the challenges in emerging areas on subtropical fruits, Institute has modern nursery facilities, well-established orchards and fully equipped laboratories.  A hostel-cum-guest house is situated at R.B. Road Campus for accommodating farmers, trainees and experts. The institute is maintaining linkages with various national and international organizations in areas of research, development, education, training and germplasm exchange and the Institute has MoU with universities and other Institutes also. Institute has also been recognized by IGNOU, New Delhi as study centre for offering one year Diploma Course on value added products of fruits and vegetables and organic farming.

Institute has world’s richest field gene bank collection of mango (727). Besides, it has germplasm collection of   guava (114), papaya (32) and other minor and underutilized fruits. Ambika and Arunika are two mango hybrids released by the Institute possessing attractive peel colour, regular bearing with potential for domestic and export markets. Lalit and Shweta are selections of guava with good processing potential and high yields. Lalit variety is particularly famous for pink pulp yielding pink coloured nectar. In bael superior selections B1  and B2 are important varieties with higher yields coupled with  low seed and fibre content. Recently CISH has identified a seedless Jamun selection which has immense table and processing value.

Technologies developed

Institute has demonstrated application of rejuvenation technology for reviving the production for senile and old mango orchards. This technology has made impressive inroads amongst the orchardist of Bihar, Jharkhand and has also been identified by National Horticulture Mission for its promotion amongst orchardists.  Yield enhancement in range of 70 to 90 per cent over the un-pruned trees is recorded after second year of rejuvenation in case of senile orchards of guava and aonla. The institute has developed the concept of meadow orcharding in guava wherein 5000 plants ha^-1 (1.0m x 2.0m) are accommodated and managed judiciously with regular topping and hedging yielding massive productivity. Year round production of guava plants is feasible now due to wedge grafting technique perfected at CISH. Round the year production of elite planting material of mandate crops is feasible with modern nursery facilities at CISH. Integrated pest management of mealy bug and hoppers on mango for pest control and Methyl eugenol based ecofriendly management of fruit fly in mango and guava orchards is being promoted. Forecasting model for the prediction of powdery mildew and hot water treatment for control of post harvest diseases of mango are plant protection technologies offered to orchardists. Protocol for post harvest management of mango along with uniform ripening of mango with ethrel is being routinely followed, which has immediate financial benefits for the growers and traders. Composting of mango peel and utilization of mango peel for pectinase production are new endevours. Amylase production from mango kernel and production of baker’s yeast from mango stone has immense potential.

Products developed

Institute has developed technology for many fruit based products such as beverages from blends of mango-pineapple (1:1), mango-pear (any ratio) and mango-papaya (2:1), raw mango squash (Panna concentrate).Oil less pickle of mango, Sweet papaya chutney, good quality vinegar from mango peel, guava slices from cv. Lalit, Sweetened and brined (salted) aonla segments, aonla and mango dietary fibre enriched biscuits, fermented beverages viz. aonla cider, guava cider, raw mango cider, mahua wine, bael wine, mango wine and mango peel vinegar.

Tools and machineries developed

Many tools and machinery has been developed by the institute such as a prototype of bund former, a simple low cost mango harvester, web removing device (hand fork type), aonla de-stoning machine, cabinet type solar de-hydrator, sprayer, automatic packaging unit, CFB boxes of 2 kg capacity for packaging of mango and guava fruits.

Services offered

Institute is offering various services like scientific literature on different technologies of subtropical fruits.

Soil and leaf analysis, on the spot inspection and advisory service for the problems of subtropical fruit production, front line demonstration of Institute technologies, consultancy services to govt. and non-govt. organizations, evaluation of chemicals/ fungicides / insecticides etc, production and sale of healthy and genuine planting materials of different varieties of mango, guava, aonla and bael, production and sale of fruit products. Institute organizes gosthies, demonstrations, exhibitions, scientists-farmers interaction, radio and TV talks etc. for the benefit of end users.

H. Ravishankar, Director

Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture